The United States government, under President Donald Trump, cancelled more than 6,000 student visas. This decision came from the US State Department. Most of these cancellations happened because students broke rules or laws. A smaller number were for allegedly supporting terrorism.
Fox Digital first reported these actions. They showed how strict the Trump administration was about immigration. Student visas faced closer checks than ever before. Officials even looked at social media profiles and made the application process longer.
Roughly 4,000 of these visas were revoked because students broke laws. Many cases involved assault. Others dealt with drunk driving, drug offenses, or theft. About 200 to 300 students lost their visas for allegedly supporting terrorism. This was based on US State Department rules. These rules say that people linked to terrorist groups cannot get a visa.
Officials did not name the specific groups the students allegedly supported. This issue arose during a tense time between President Trump and top US universities. He claimed these schools had become centers for anti-Jewish sentiment. This came after large student protests for Palestinian rights during the Gaza conflict.
Harvard University became a prime example of this clash. Trump ordered funding cuts for investigations there. He also threatened to remove the university’s tax-exempt status. Because of this, several European countries announced more research money. They hoped to attract scholars and students away from the United States.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said hundreds, possibly thousands, of visas were cancelled, including student visas. He stated these individuals were involved in actions that went against American foreign policy interests. Government officials also stressed that student visa and green card holders who supported Palestinians or criticized Israel could lose their status and be deported. These actions were viewed as threats to national interests and labelled as “supporting Hamas.”
One notable case involved a Turkish student from Tufts University. He was held for over six weeks in an immigration center in Louisiana. His ‘crime’ was writing an article criticizing his university’s position on the Gaza war. A court eventually ordered his temporary release.
Critics argue these strict measures violate freedom of speech. This right is protected by the First Amendment of the US Constitution. They suggest the government is using immigration and education rules as tools to push certain ideas, rather than for true security.
The news was first reported by Fox Digital, with further details shared by Reuters.